CLEVELAND, Ohio — Guardians rookie outfielder Jhonkensy Noel was one of the first players Stephen Vogt met at the club’s Arizona training facility after he was hired as manager in November. Vogt remembers asking Noel if he would lift weights there during the offseason to get bigger and stronger.
“He says, ‘No, I’m getting faster,'” Vogt recalls. “You hear him talk about wanting to put the ball in play more often, about his confidence and about where he wants to get better. And then he goes out there and does it, works on his speed and agility, works on more contact and sees the rewards at the highest level. He hasn’t been this wide-eyed since the day he got here.”
Noel’s results have been spectacular at times, as in Monday’s 9-8 comeback win over the Cubs. Noel made a crucial pike catch to stop Chicago’s scoring outburst and moments later gave Cleveland its first lead with a single. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound gentle giant, known in the locker room as “Big Christmas,” later hit a solo home run for his first multi-home game and a career-high four RBIs.
Noel is the first Cleveland rookie with eight or more home runs in his first 31 games since Russell Branyan, who hit nine home runs from 1998 to 2000. He said afterward he knew the power numbers would be there as long as his approach to the batting plate remained consistent.
“It’s just about always feeling like I have a good connection,” Noel said through Guardians interpreter Agustin Rivero. “Because like (Vogt) told me in spring training, I can hit the ball 500 feet or 100 feet, but the most important thing for me is to put it in play somewhere. Anytime I can put it in play, I get good results.”
Noel’s first home run came on a 1-2 splitter from Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga that landed well below the strike zone. After Noel threw the pitch 400 feet to the home run spot in left field, Vogt noticed his adaptability at the plate.
“I mean, he’s hit some incredible home runs and he’s really adaptable,” Vogt said. “The way he can swing his legs and keep his bat through the zone is really impressive.”
Noel’s teammates were also impressed with the rookie’s progress. Josh Naylor said Noel is doing a good job on both sides of the ball.
“He works hard off the field and it pays off on the field,” Naylor said. “You see a great ball player on offense and defense and we’re proud of him.”
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Hanging out
Left-hander Anthony Gose, released by the Guardians last week, has accepted an outright option to Triple-A Columbus and returned to the Clippers. Gose, who missed all of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, appeared in a game against Arizona last week, allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings with a walk and a strikeout. The former major league outfielder reinvented himself as a pitcher, working his way back to the major leagues in 2021 after a five-year career as an outfielder with Detroit and Toronto.
Anthony Gose throws during the eighth inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field on August 7, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)Getty Images
Stop sign
Outfield coach JT Maguire is filling in for Rouglas Odor as the Guardians’ third base coach during the Cubs series. Odor is not with the team this week due to family reasons, the club said.
What happens next?
Here’s what’s happening with the Guardians after Monday night’s win over the Cubs.
Tuesday: The Guardians will face Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (5-3, 3.24). Left-hander Matthew Boyd is scheduled to make his first appearance for Cleveland in a game at 6:40 p.m. Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM, WARF 1350 AM (Spanish) and the Guardians Radio Network will broadcast the series.
Wednesday: Cleveland ends its series against the Cubs as RHP Alex Cobb (0-1, 7.71) makes his second start for the Guardians, facing RHP Jameson Taillon (8-6, 3.50).
Thursday: The guards are gone.
Friday: Cleveland opens a six-game road trip to Milwaukee and New York with a game against the Brewers at 8:10 p.m.
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